Chartier Wins MNC Re-Election
Monday, December 13, 2010 at 16:31
Elections were held this weekend for president of the Metis National Council.
Incumbent leader, Clem Chartier, was re-elected for a third term.
John Keyuk, a former RCMP officer and government worker, ran against Chartier.
During his nomination acceptance speech, he called his introduction to Metis politics “disappointing,”
Keyuk said he had been insulted and chastised for even considering running and told he didn’t have the right to run.
Fifty-five ballots were cast, but the actual numbers cast for each candidate was not announced.
A motion was passed to immediately destroy the ballots following the election but the media was later told 80 per cent voted for Chartier or 44 of 55 votes.
Chartier hopes to focus on constitutional reform during this term.
During his state of the nation address, he told the MNC General Assembly that stronger relations between Canada and the Metis would be beneficial to the Metis because they might be able to push for a share of the tax revenue the province and country collect from the Metis.
However, Chartier says in order for that to happen, the Metis have to get their internal governance issues in order.
Chartier believes it’s taken so long to move forward because the nation has been
divided for a number of years in terms of the provinces imposed on the homeland and as a result, operating as provincial bodies.
Chartier also asked the assembly if in the future, it would consider giving the president a seat in the delegate’s assembly as currently that position does not have one.